On August 6 the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by a hiker who reported an abandoned campsite near Third Lake. Deputies learned the camp belonged to Brenton Wright (27), who had been in the Sierra for one month, solo climbing various classic mountain routes. On July 30 he entered the Palisades region with the intention of linking the Temple-Gayley-Sill traverse with the Sill-Thunderbolt traverse. He never returned.

The Inyo County Search and Rescue Team was called upon to locate Wright in this massive area of technical terrain. From the air, Wright’s body was located approximately 900 feet above the base of Temple Crag, between the Venusian Blind and Moon Goddess Are?te routes. Five SAR members with technical climbing gear were inserted at Third Lake and hiked to his position. The team determined that Wright had fallen nearly 500 feet and sustained fatal injuries. His body was recovered by long line. (Source: Inyo County Search and Rescue/Victor Lawson.)

ANALYSIS

Soloing big mountain terrain has potential for big consequences, and any slip can turn fatal. Soloists should be particularly attentive to route-finding, selecting good holds, and minding mountain weather. (Source: The Editors.)